UIA welcomes residents to new Amigour home
Currently Amigour provides 6000 apartments in 57 homes for around 7500 residents. The need is constantly growing with approximately 27,000 elderly still lacking proper housing in Israel.
UIA Australia was proud to hold the official ribbon-cutting ceremony of a social club for the Amigour home in Ashkelon in southern Israel in May.
The centre provides housing for vulnerable elderly citizens, including Holocaust survivors and new immigrants.
Amigour is Israel’s leading operator of public and sheltered housing facilities for vulnerable elderly, a project of national priority supported by Keren Hayesod-UIA, the Israeli government and the Jewish Agency for Israel.
Currently Amigour provides 6000 apartments in 57 homes for around 7500 residents. The need is constantly growing with approximately 27,000 elderly still lacking proper housing in Israel.
The social club was built from funds raised by UIA through its inaugural crowdfunding Giving Day in November 2020. The campaign, which raised $2.4 million, broke Charidy’s record for raising the highest amount of money and having the highest number of donors (over 2500) for a Jewish organisation in Australia.
The campaign reached its initial target of $1.5 million within four hours of commencing and had the support of approximately 250 volunteers around Australia, with all funds being matched by the Israeli government.
UIA facilitated the official opening by inviting participants from its Major Donor Mission who saw first-hand the impact of their support. The Major Donor Mission participants, many of whom matched the funds raised by UIA for Amigour, were honoured with plaques at the facility.
Erez Shani, CEO of Amigour, also attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “Currently 597 elderly men and women are living here – 35 per cent of them are Holocaust survivors. Today is a day of celebration,” he said.
UIA Australia president Esther Frenkiel – who officially cut the ribbon at the Amigour social club opening, together with Victorian president Peter Horovitz, and immediate past president Hayley Southwick – said, “How wonderful it is for the Australian community to see the great result of their continuing generosity. It was an absolute privilege to be there in person and appreciate the wonderful work of KH-UIA.”
Follow UIA on Facebook and Instagram (@uiaaus) for updates on Amigour and upcoming campaigns and events.
comments